Jagdalpur, Chhattisgarh: Security forces have recovered a substantial cache of explosive material and related components from a forest area near Ittalanka village in Sukma district, police said on Wednesday. The operation forms part of intensified anti‑Maoist activity in the southern Bastar belt this month, and follows an earlier arms dump recovery on 3 August in the district.
Joint operation and agencies involved
The search was carried out after specific intelligence indicated the presence of hidden explosives in the forest roughly 300 metres from Ittalanka village, located under the jurisdiction of Chintalnar police station. A coordinated team from Sukma Police and the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) took part in the operation.
Senior officers directing the action included Sukma Superintendent of Police Mayank Gurjar, Commanding Officer of the CRPF’s 150th Battalion Rakesh Chandra Shukla, and Additional Superintendent of Police (Naxal Operations) Rohit Shah. The deployment comprised personnel from the CRPF’s F Company and Quick Action Team (QAT), together with staff from Chintalnar police station. A Bomb Detection and Disposal (BDD) unit was also attached to the search party because of the possibility of improvised explosive devices.
Items recovered
Security officials listed a variety of explosive items and accessories found wrapped in a cloth inside a suspicious bag. The recovered material included components commonly used in assembling improvised explosive devices or for other militant operations. Police said the haul could have been used against security personnel or to damage public infrastructure if not intercepted.
- Explosives and initiators: 25 gelatin sticks, 16 BGL heads, 25 detonator cases, two electric detonators.
- Wiring and triggering components: 12 metres of Cardex wire, five metres of wire, a charging cable, a battery connector.
- Other items: six BGL plungers, BGL raw material, a belt, three rolls of Velcro, a plastic drum.
| Item | Quantity |
|---|---|
| Gelatin sticks | 25 |
| BGL heads | 16 |
| Detonator cases | 25 |
| Cardex wire (metres) | 12 |
| Electric detonators | 2 |
Earlier recovery in the month
Police also referred to a separate recovery on 3 August when security teams located an arms dump in the forested area of Bodhrajpadar under Bhejji police station. Authorities said the two recoveries in August reflect escalated search-and-clear activities in parts of Sukma, where Maoist groups have been active.
Operational significance and safety measures
Officials described the latest find as significant from an operational standpoint. By intercepting the materials before they were put to use, security agencies said they reduced the risk to both uniformed personnel and civilians, and diminished the capacity of insurgents to carry out blasts or sabotage infrastructure.
The presence of a BDD team during the operation ensured that the items were handled according to safety protocols. The use of specialised teams and careful examination of suspicious objects reduces the likelihood of accidental detonation during recovery efforts.
Local context
Sukma is part of the larger Bastar region, which has seen prolonged insurgency-related violence. Security deployments and intelligence-driven operations remain a primary tool for state and central forces to disrupt militant activity, recover caches and limit the operational reach of Maoist cadres.
Police said further details about forensic analysis or case registrations would be shared as investigations progress and as teams complete clearance of the recovered material.
What this means for residents:
- Increased patrolling and search operations may continue in affected areas.
- Residents in and around forest fringes should adhere to directions from local police and security forces during sweeps.
- Any information from locals about suspicious bags or unusual activity remains valuable to ongoing counter‑insurgency efforts.
